OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Corporate Plan 2015 – 2020
Contents
2.
Overview
3.
Stakeholders
3.
Vision
4.
Funding
5.
OceanWatch Business Environment
Australia’s marine environment
The Australian seafood industry
The Australian community
Australian Governments
13.
Outcome and Operational Priorities
Outcome
Operational Priorities for the seafood industry
Operational Priorities for the Australian community
14.
Governance
The Company
The Members
The Board
Best practice governance
About This Plan
This OceanWatch Australia Ltd Corporate Plan 2015 – 2020 describes the nature of
OceanWatch Australia (OceanWatch), defines its vision, describes the enabling actions it
employs to achieve its vision, provides a snapshot of its business environment, outlines its
outcome and operational priorities for the period of this Plan, and details its governance.
Details of how OceanWatch addresses its operational priorities including indicators against which
achievements can be measured are contained in OceanWatch’s companion National Marine
Natural Resource Management (NRM) Plan and other related plans that may be developed from
time to time.
The Plan was adopted by OceanWatch Directors on 7/10/2015.
1
Overview
OceanWatch Australia Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, listed on the
Register of Environmental Organisations (REO).1
OceanWatch works to advance environmental, economic and social sustainability in the
Australian fishing and aquaculture industry and promotes awareness and stewardship within
other parts of the community that use and value the marine environment.
In 2014 the Australian Government recognised OceanWatch as the national organisation
responsible for the delivery of its marine Natural Resource Management (NRM) related programs
and, through funding agreements, assists it to achieve mutually agreed long term outcomes. Although the delivery of the Australian Government NRM related programs imposes contractual responsibilities on OceanWatch, they are consistent with the long standing activities and current
Vision of the Company.
OceanWatch was originally established in 1989 by
Peter Doyle AO, as it was then recognised that the
NSW commercial wild-catch fishing sector’s future
was dependent upon a healthy marine
environment and sustainable fishing practices.
The Company's initial role was to work with the
NSW seafood industry and coastal communities to
implement practical solutions to problems that
affected the industry or coastal environments.
OceanWatch’s foundation Members were, and remain:
NSW Fishermen’s Co-Operatives Association Ltd
Sydney Fish Market Pty Ltd
Master Fish Merchants Association of Australia
The Company’s Constitution lists its Objects as:
to seek the protection of aquatic habitats
to seek an end to water pollution
to ensure that industry groups are fully informed as to the nature of environmental
problems and ways of dealing with them
to seek the support of other sectors of society in promoting the conservation of
aquatic habitats
OceanWatch is a small Sydney based company with a national influence that has developed its
organisational structure to optimise its performance. OceanWatch is not a political lobby group
and it does not take on the responsibilities of a peak industry body.
1 Donations to the public funds of organisations on the REO are tax deductible
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
2
Stakeholders
OceanWatch’s stakeholders include:
the Australian seafood industry
the community, including recreational and Indigenous customary fishers, that uses
and values the marine environment.
Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments
Regional NRM organisations
other industry users of the marine environment where these users may affect, interact
With or share common interests with fishing and aquaculture operations.
OceanWatch Vision
Australia’s marine environment is healthy, productive, valued,
and is used in a responsible way
OceanWatch works towards this vision through the following interrelated enabling actions.
At government level:
ensuring adequate support including funding for OceanWatch and marine NRM taking a
lead role in marine NRM planning for Australia's marine environments
fostering the inclusion of key seafood industry and community stakeholders within marine
NRM planning and delivery processes
At stakeholder level:
determining priority activities in consultation with Members and key stakeholders
assisting key seafood industry and community stakeholders to access public and private
funds to undertake sustainable practice and environmental protection and restoration
activities
fostering collaboration and partnerships with key seafood industry and community
stake holders throughout the planning and delivery phases of activities
undertaking activities using evidence based knowledge
ensuring OceanWatch performance meets professional standards and Member and
stake holder expectations
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
3
Funding
Since its inception in 1989 OceanWatch has received funding from its foundation Members
through a ‘box levy’ on seafood sold through the Sydney Fish Market.
In addition to the funding that OceanWatch receives from its Members, and for its delivery of the
Australian Government NRM related programs, it sources funding and in-kind support from other
entities and individuals including:
Seafood Industry
Sydney Fish Market
Industry organisations and peak bodies
Individual seafood producers
Corporate and Community
Corporate sponsors
Philanthropic sources
Individual donors
Government
Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments
Organisations concerned with natural resource management, fisheries and aquaculture
Research funders and providers
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
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OceanWatch Business Environment
Australia's marine environment
Australia’s exclusive economic zone is the third largest in the World covering about one and a half
times the size of Australia’s land mass. Its diverse marine seascapes, stretching from the tropics
to Antarctica, reflect unique biodiversity values and deliver a valuable flow of ecosystems goods
and services. These values are under pressure everywhere but especially on the continental
shelf where marine ecosystems face multiple pressures from human development (over 80 per
cent of Australia’s 23 million people live within 50 kilometres of the coast) and changing ocean
climate.2
For the purposes of this plan, the marine environment is defined as areas under tidal influence.
Marine, estuarine and terrestrial ecosystems provide habitat for a diverse range of species –
about 4,500 finfish species, and perhaps tens of thousands of invertebrate species. Australian
marine and terrestrial waters are nutrient poor by global comparisons due to the dominance of the
two southern polar flowing currents of warm tropical waters. Consequently Australia’s marine
fisheries rank 52nd in global tonnage terms (0.2 per cent of tonnage landed), but are relatively
high in value (2 per cent of landed value).3 The extensive length of Australia’s continental coastline
(36,000 kilometres, rank 7th) spanning 35 degrees of latitude creates great diversity in habitat,
and species. Shorelines include coral reefs temperate rocky and sandy shores, more than 900
estuaries, 10,000 sandy beaches, and 8,000 diverse islands (National Marine Science Plan,
2014). This visible and bathymetric variability creates habitat for molluscs and crustaceans,
where Australia is established as a significant producer of wild-catch species, including rock
lobster, pearl oysters, abalone and prawns.4
Challenges facing Australia's marine environment include:5
land based pollution impacting on water quality
alterations to physical habitats
biosecurity
marine based pollution, plastic debris, oil spills
oil and gas exploration and extraction
dredging, ocean dumping
global climate change
2. Dittmann & Doherty, 2014 Nov cited in Sector Overview, Colquhoun, 2014
3. 2014 FRDC F&A Sector Overview, FRDC and Ridge Partners
4. ibid
5. Kearney, R & Farebrother, G. 2015. The comparative performance of the management of the individual threats to marine
environments and fisheries resources (FRDC 2013/029).
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
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The Australian seafood industry
The seafood industry comprises approximately 120 wild-catch fisheries from which over 600
finfish and shellfish are commercially harvested from marine and freshwater. There is also a large
number of aquaculture species produced or in various stages of development; prawns, Southern
Bluefin Tuna, salmonids, edible oysters and pearl oysters accounted for over 80 per cent of the
value of aquaculture in 2012-13. In that year the industry produced 237,318 tonnes of seafood of
which 34 per cent was farmed; and was valued at $2.4 billion of which 43 per cent was derived
from aquaculture. 6
For the purposes of this plan, the seafood industry is defined as any activity conducted
in or from Australia concerned with the commercial taking, culturing, processing,
preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products. It comprises
the following three sectors:
commercial wild-catch
aquaculture
post-harvest
Industry enterprises range from low technology single-owner-operators for whom the lifestyle is
important, to large vertically integrated companies that operate largely for profit. In 2012-13 the
industry employed 13,813 people in the wild-catch (5,050), aquaculture (3,558) and post-harvest
sectors (5,205). 7 The industry’s production is low in volume but high in value; and Australia’s excellent international reputation for the quality and the environmental credentials of its exports of
abalone, rock lobster, prawn, scallop, Southern Bluefin Tuna, tropical fish and pearls has maximised returns through exports. In 2012-13 49 per cent of Australia’s production was exported
and valued at $1.65 billion. 8
Demand for seafood remains strong across Australia with consumption in 2012-13 at 15 kilograms per person per year. A key driver is the awareness of seafood’s prominent role in a healthy
diet. Total domestic consumption has grown by three per cent over the last decade while
production has fallen by one per cent. There remains some prospect for increasing Australian
production through improvements in fisheries management, aquaculture and to a lesser extent
better utilisation of low value wild-catch species and processing waste. However, Australia will
continue to rely on imports, mainly from Thailand and China, to fill most of the seafood deficit
which in 2012-13 was 66 per cent of total consumption. 9
6. Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics, ABARES 2013
7. ibid
8. ibid
9. ibid
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With the growing seafood deficit combined with the strength of the Australian dollar over recent
years, some businesses have been looking to re-orient their market portfolio towards increasing
their share of the Australian market. Increasingly, businesses are seeking to improve their
profitability and efficiency through focusing on the whole value chain through to consumers. This
will see more companies becoming either vertically integrated or building partnerships to achieve
similar results.
In some Asian markets consumption is also increasing with the growth of the middle class,
especially in China and India. This will mean that Australia will be competing with these countries
for imports that will consequently increase in price.
Challenges facing the Australian seafood industry include:
Environmental
addressing non-fishing impacts on the productivity of marine environment
reaching and maintaining sustainable levels of fisheries production
adopting fishing and aquaculture best practices to improve environmental performance
including reducing bycatch and interactions with Threatened Endangered and
Protected species
Social
ensuring evidence based decision making is the basis of marine environment policy and
Management
improving public perception of the industry
developing people and organisations
Economic
improving profitability for producers
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
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The Australian Community
Recreational and Indigenous Fishers
For the purposes of this plan, recreational and Indigenous fishers are regarded as community
stakeholders. The inextricable link between these fishers and the seafood industry in terms of the
publicly managed natural resources on which they all depend and compete for, gives justification
for their being separately described from other community activities.
About 3.4 million Australians fish for recreational purposes and contribute about $1.8 billion to the
Australian economy. The sector supports about 90,000 jobs. 10
Indigenous people fish according to custom – ceremony, exchange, trade and barter- or for
recreational purposes. Many Indigenous fishers also participate in the commercial wild-catch and
aquaculture sectors. The legal rights around Indigenous fishing are being refined over time and
some aspects are now part of existing legislation and court decisions. 11
The recreational and Indigenous customary sector, together with the seafood industry,
provide important economic and social benefits within coastal communities.
Consumers and Community
Consumers want access to a reliable and affordable array of seafood through retail and food service channels while also being concerned with the sustainability of wild-caught and farmed seafood both domestically and internationally. In some cases this has led to industry and governments demonstrating their commitment to best fishing and management practices through independent assessment and third-party certification.
In recent years, the Australian community in general has become increasingly aware of the need
to protect, maintain and rehabilitate natural aquatic resources (ocean, estuary, river, wetland and
other habitats) in order to maintain biological diversity and processes. The adverse impacts of
land-based activities, frequently transferred to marine, estuary and coastal environments by
run-off and rivers, are also of concern.
Challenges facing the Australian community include:
ensuring an appropriate balance between marine
protection and sustainable resource use
continuing access to Australian seafood for Australian
consumers
increasing awareness and respect for
Indigenous customary fishing activities
addressing fishing and non-fishing impacts on the
health and productivity of the marine environment
supporting sustainability through purchasing choices
10. Ibid
11. The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey July 2003; FRDC Project No 99/158; Commonwealth of Australia 2003
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Australian Governments
Governments, at the state and Commonwealth level, play a lead role in responding to the marine
environment, seafood industry and community challenges identified above. They do this through
developing and implementing policy and legislation, and establishing operational management
arrangements based on political considerations, community expectations, and relevant
international agreements.
Governments also fund specific activities of non-government organisations to deliver outcomes in
areas for which they have neither the capacity nor the responsibility. Of most relevance to
OceanWatch is the Australian Government's investment in Natural Resource Management (NRM)
described below.
International Agreements
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) attempts to regulate all
aspects of the resources of the sea and uses of the ocean – it covers everything from
navigational rights to the conservation and management of living marine
resources. UNCLOS recognises the right of coastal states to jurisdiction (Economic
Exclusion Zone - EEZ) over all resources, in the waters, ocean floor and subsoil of an
area extending 200nm from its shore. Within its EEZ, Australia has sovereign rights to
explore and exploit, conserve and manage the natural resources—both living (such as
fisheries and genetic material) and non-living (such as oil, gas, minerals), as well as
responsibility for the protection and preservation of the marine environment.
Australia is also a member of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation
(UNFAO) Committee on Fisheries which is responsible for the long-term sustainable
development and utilization of the world's fisheries and aquaculture.
The UNFAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code) was initiated in 1991
by the Committee on Fisheries and unanimously adopted on 31 October 1995 by the
over 170 member governments including Australia.
The Code provides principles and standards applicable to the conservation, management
and development of all fisheries. It also covers the capture, processing and trade of fish
and fishery products, fishing operations, aquaculture, fisheries research and integration of
fisheries into coastal area management.
In February 2011 the first global guidelines for bycatch management and reduction of
fishing discards were agreed upon by members of the Committee on Fisheries. The
guidelines also cover bycatch management planning, improvement of fishing gear,
fisheries closures, economic incentives to facilitate uptake of measures, monitoring,
research and development, building the capacity of states to follow the guidelines and
other relevant issues.
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
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Legislation and Policy
At a National level, Australia’s Oceans Policy 12 is an overarching policy, instigated by the
Commonwealth, which has the objective of setting in place the framework for integrated and
ecosystem based planning and management for all of Australia’s marine jurisdictions. The policy
has been implemented through the development of marine bioregional plans, which describe the
marine environment and conservation values of each marine region, set out broad biodiversity
objectives, identify regional priorities and outline strategies and actions to address these priorities.
Marine bioregional plans have been developed for four of Australia's marine regions - South-west,
North-west, North and Temperate East to improve the way decisions are made under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), particularly in
relation to the protection of marine biodiversity and the sustainable use of our oceans and their
resources by our marine-based industries. 13
In addition to contributing to marine planning and management processes, Commonwealth state
and territory governments are responsible for fisheries and aquaculture within their respective
jurisdictions.
Except where agreement is reached to the contrary, Commonwealth Government jurisdiction extends from three nautical miles outside the baseline to the limit of the EEZ; state and Northern
Territory (NT) jurisdiction is generally from the baseline to three nautical miles. Commonwealth
fisheries are managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority. Fisheries management
within the NT and state jurisdictions is vested in the state and territory government departments
responsible for fishing and aquaculture.
Natural Resource Management
At a Commonwealth level, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of
the Environment collaborate to develop and implement NRM policies that protect and conserve
marine ecosystems and biodiversity while maintaining a profitable, competitive and sustainable
fishing (seafood) industry. 14
The strategic objectives of Australian Government investment in NRM 15 include the following:
Communities are managing landscapes to sustain long-term economic and social benefits
from their environment.
Farmers and fishers are increasing their long term returns through better management of
the natural resource base.
Communities are involved in caring for their environment.
Communities are protecting species and natural assets
Supporting sustainability through purchasing choices
12. Commonwealth of Australia, Australia’s Oceans Policy (Canberra: Environment Australia,1998)
13. http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/marine-bioregional-plans
14. http://www.agriculture.gov.au/fisheries/environment
15. http://www.nrm.gov.au/national-landcare-programme
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Operational Management Arrangements
Fisheries
Fisheries management is based on a co-management arrangement involving the fishing
industry, scientists, economists and other user groups, such as those that represent recreational
and Indigenous fishing and environmental non-government organisations. 16 Various fisheries
management acts and regulations govern the way fisheries are managed. In addition, fishery
management plans identify objectives, describe fishing concessions (i.e., statutory fishing rights,
quotas, fishing permits etc), allocation procedures and also specify the rules governing fishers in
order to manage Australia’s fisheries in a sustainable way.
The Status of key Australian fish stocks reports provide a comprehensive independent evaluation
of the biological status of major Australian fisheries stocks. They are produced by the Australian
Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences in collaboration with
Commonwealth, state and NT government fishery research agencies. The development of the
2014 Report involved 238 stock assessments, covering 68 key species or species complexes.
The species included in the report represent around 85 per cent of the annual catch and 90 per
cent of the value of Australian wild-capture fisheries in 2012–13. The report was able to classify
170 of the stocks assessed, with insufficient data for the remaining 68. The report classified
eleven of the 170 classified stocks as overfished representing 4.9% of Australia’s seafood catch.
Aquaculture
While the Australian Government has a number of important functions in relation to aquaculture,
including national programs for research, quarantine, aquatic animal health, food safety,
environmental management, and market access and trade, most elements of the regulation of
domestic aquaculture production rest with the states and territories.
Aquaculture operations, particularly those that operate in, or discharge into, public waters, are
required to comply with stringent environmental controls monitored on an ongoing basis by state
agencies.
Further protection for listed Threatened, Endangered and Protected species and habitats
impacted by seafood production is provided for under the EPBC Act.
16. http://www.agriculture.gov.au/fisheries
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Marine reserves
Marine protected areas have been created adjacent to the Australian coast to protect
representative samples of marine ecosystems, to protect marine biodiversity and provide for
sustainable use. Varying zoning regimes within marine reserves range from highly protected no
take areas to multi use areas allowing a wide range of activities including commercial and
recreational fishing, tourism and shipping.
While marine reserves may incidentally contribute to reducing fishing pressure, the responsibility
for managing fish stock sustainability and the impacts of fishing on the marine environment rests
with fisheries managers in each jurisdiction.
Challenges facing governments include:
managing allocation of resources between user groups and conservation interests
integrating management of activities in terrestrial focussed
ecosystems that impact on marine areas.
providing appropriate levels of response to .the protection
and restoration of Australia's marine environment
improving stewardship of coastal and marine ecosystems
improving access to and understanding of information regarding
the status of Australia's marine environment and fisheries
ensuring evidence based decision making is the basis of
marine environment policy and management
leading and driving excellence in objective
decision-making using evidence based knowledge
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
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Outcome and Operational Priorities
The outcomes and operational priorities detailed below reflect OceanWatch's strategic
prioritisation of the above challenges that the Company has a role and some capacity to
address on behalf of its Members during the period of this Plan. Operational priorities are
expressed through the themes Seafood Industry and Community; reflecting the Company's
primary method of achieving its outcome by working with people to influence behavioural change.
Details of how OceanWatch addresses its operational priorities including indicators against which
achievements can be measured are contained in the companion National Marine NRM Plan and
other related plans that may be developed from time to time.
OceanWatch Outcome
The seafood industry and the community have accurate and comprehensive
knowledge of the marine environment and work collaboratively towards
ensuring its health and productivity.
Operational Priorities for the Seafood Industry
I1. Increase industry understanding and adoption of best environmental practice including the
reduction of bycatch and interactions with Threatened Endangered and Protected species
I2. Promote the stewardship of the marine environment within the seafood industry
I3. Enhance seafood industry understanding of community expectations regarding stewardship of
the marine environment
I4. Improve seafood industry access to, and understanding of, credible evidence based
knowledge regarding the marine environment and fisheries
I5. Empower and support industry sectors to protect and restore priority areas within the marine
environment
Operational Priorities for the Community
C1. Increase community understanding and adoption of best environmental practice including the
reduction of adverse impacts from land based activities
C2. Promote the stewardship of the marine environment within the community
C3. Enhance community understanding of seafood industry stewardship of the marine
environment
C4. Improve community access to, and understanding of, credible evidence based knowledge
regarding the marine environment and fisheries
C5. Empower and support community groups to protect and restore priority areas within the
marine environment
delivering practical solutions to benefit the marine environment, the seafood industry and the community
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Governance
The Company
OceanWatch Australia Ltd, ACN 071 195 901 is a national not-for-profit company limited by
guarantee with deductible gift recipient status (Australian Taxation Office), and is listed on the
Register of Environmental Organisations. 17
OceanWatch is also a registered charity and appears on the Register of the Australian Charities
and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Details about OceanWatch, including Company Objects and constitution, financial reports and
directors and public officers details are publicly available on the ACNC website. 18
The Members
Currently, OceanWatch has three Members:
New South Wales Fishermen’s Co-Operatives Association Ltd
Sydney Fish Market Pty Ltd
Master Fish Merchants Association of Australia
Members are equivalent to shareholders in a proprietary limited company.
Membership is open to organisations who contribute financially to OceanWatch and have a
strategic capability to assist OceanWatch achieve its Vision.
Associate Membership is open to organisations that are not financial contributors to OceanWatch,
but may contribute financially and in-kind to specific OceanWatch projects. Associate Members
are not “Members” of the Company under the Corporations Act 2001.
Although OceanWatch derives funding from the Australian Government to deliver its NRM
related programs, the Australian Government is not a Company Member.
18. http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/1fbfb20f-5749-4468-b008-feaf1804e969/files/register-environmentalorganisations-2015.pdf
19. http://www.acnc.gov.au/RN52B75Q?ID=BB14BA4E-3C4C-4407-949F-C88A7DFCE29F&noleft=1
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The Board
OceanWatch is governed by a board of directors appointed annually by the Company Members at
the annual general meeting. The directors are appointed on the basis of ensuring that the board
has a wide range of skills, knowledge, networks and experience, both within and outside the
seafood industry including:
executive management/leadership in the seafood industry
natural resource management policy and practice at regional and national scales
environmental sciences, especially relating to fisheries and aquaculture
communications, media relations and marketing
public policy and management of government-industry relations
fisheries research, development and extension
natural resource economics and social sciences
financial management and fundraising
corporate governance
Best practice governance
OceanWatch operates under a framework of best practice governance based on the Australian
Institute of Company Directors’ Good Governance Principles and Guidance for Not-For- Profit Organisations. Underpinning these principles is a library of organisational policies and
procedures.
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